| After what seems to be nearly non-stop nattering of political nabobs over the dangers of guns, gun owners and the gun industry in general, it’s good to go someplace where you feel welcome.
Bainbridge, Georgia would qualify. In fact, it’s a “safe place” for anyone who feels that owning a gun doesn’t make you a menace any more than a owning an overcoat makes you a flasher.
Today, it’s officially the new home of Taurus USA.
Yesterday, Bainbridge and the State of Georgia rolled out the red carpet to welcome their newest corporate citizen: Taurus USA.
South American heritage and all, Taurus USA has moved – lock, stock and barrel – to Bainbridge and a brand-new manufacturing facility.
The party started on Wednesday evening (top) as Taurus literally took over Bainbridge’s town square for a party where guests, workers and new neighbors mingled and got to know each other. Yesterday, workers, residents and dignitaries gathered (below) outside the new facility to official open Taurus USA’s new HQ for business.
During a construction visit in April, I had an unexpected opportunity to meet some of the small town’s residents. They were warm, welcoming, and quickly let me me know they were excited for the jobs and new neighbors Taurus would be bringing. Taurus was welcome news for an area that had suffered from a tornado that devastated the area. In fact, there are still blue tarpaulins on some damaged roofs, signs that the rebuilding is a long way from complete.
With Taurus in the picture, rebuilding includes training Bainbridge and Decatur county residents for higher paying manufacturing jobs in an area far better known for growing peanuts than building pistols. It also represents reasons for local youth to stay in the area, rather than leaving for opportunity.
“This is a big deal,” said Governor Brian Kemp, “for Taurus HQ to be located here. It continues the growth of our state. Our employment is at new highs and our unemployment numbers are the lowest in nineteen years – all that means great things for the state and all of us.”
Georgia, Kemp told the crowd, leads the country in workforce development, competitive environment and, he said proudly, “the number one state in speed to permit.”
“All this matters,” Kemp said, “and it’s why Atlanta may be a business magnet, but seventy four percent of the multi-billion dollar business growth projects last year were outside the Atlanta perimeter.
With the arrival of Taurus, Georgia Department of Economic Development Commissioner Pat Wilson told the crowd, Bainbridge and Decatur counties were no longer guilty of “not telling its whole story.”
For Taurus, Bainbridge means a new start, outside increasingly inconvenient confines of Miami and Dade County, Florida.
In addition to a new facility with room to grow, Bainbridge represents the opportunity to build a new narrative, if you will, while still maintaining its Latin American heritage via the significant number of Florida employees who have moved – willingly- to Bainbridge, Tallahassee and the surrounding area.
As one Taurus worker told me Wednesday evening, “the air tastes better here.”
With the firearms industry going through the same upheavals that have roiled many other industry segments, the relocation means a new emphasis on efficiencies in everything from receiving of raw materials to shipping of finished products.
During visitor tours, Taurus VP of Business Operations David McCallum proudly explained new work processes (above). After the official opening, attendees moved to the on-site range facilities to try Taurus products first-hand (below).
Throughout the entire process, Taurus Holdings CEO David Blenker worked to temper his enthusiasm for the building, the company and their new home. That enthusiasm leaked out as he told that Taurus had decided to earmark the first 2,000 of their award-winning .22 caliber pistol for area dealers.
“We decided to create a certificate of authenticity to go with the guns,” he told me, “and we asked Mayor Ed Reynolds if he would certify them.” Reynolds agreed, hand-signing each of the 2,000 certificates.
“Can you imagine,” Blenker said excitedly, “a mayor willing to do that anywhere else?”
No, but I can’t imagine the head of many gun companies hand-delivering around 1,000 of these “certified” pistols to gun shops in the surrounding area, either.
The offer was announced just after Thanksgiving -and as of the dedication yesterday, more than half have already gone to proud area residents.
Sounds like the company and its new neighbors are going to get along just fine.
—Jim Shepherd |
